An assessment of the value of a small nature reserve, with particular reference to the Palmiet Nature Reserve, Westville, Natal

Bibliography: p. 220.This study investigates the value of small nature reserves of less than 100 ha. The biological, recreational and educational values of small nature reserves in general are assessed and management for multiple-use activities is considered. A specific example, the 35 ha urban reserve, the Palmiet Nature Reserve in Westville, Natal, is evaluated in terms of the biological communities, visitor attitudes and their reasons for going into this Reserve, use by educational institutions, management and problems. Recommendations for improving the potential of the Palmiet Nature Reserve for both conservation and multiple-use activities are suggested. Changes in the Nature Conservation Ordinance in Natal to accommodate local nature reserves are recommended. Finally the justification for establishing small nature reserves is considered

A comprehensive system for managing reproductive failure in small domestic ruminants

The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system was used as a basis for describing a methodology for the management of reproduction in small ruminant flocks. The seven principles of the HACCP system are: 1. Conduct a hazard analysis 2. Identify critical control points 3. Establish critical limits for each control point 4. Establish monitoring procedure 5. Establish corrective actions 6. Establish a record keeping procedure 7. Establish verification procedures. The first principle of HACCP requires a description of the production system. The small ruminant reproduction process was subdivided into four sub-processes with a total of 33 phases. The ewe management cycle consists of 12 phases and the ram management cycle, replacement ewe cycle and replacement ram cycle each consists of seven phases. The reproductive process was described by a flow diagram. The hazards were categorized as management, environmental, nutritional, genetic, predatory, physiological and disease factors that could affect reproductive performance. The second principle requires the establishment of Critical Control Points (CCP). Seventeen CCPs in the reproductive process were established and monitoring and diagnostic procedures for each of the critical control points was described together with suggested corrective actions. The resulting HACCP plan formed the basis of consultations with 30 commercial small stock enterprises. Each of the Critical Control Points was applied to at least three and up to 30 of the flocks over the period of the trial to establish the practicality and validity of the procedures which were described as standard operating procedures. Data forms were designed for the structured collection of data regarding the process as well as the CCPs. The Critical Control Points and forms that were selected in this project were as follows: CC1. Ewe selection. Prior to Ewe preparation. Ewe selection data form CC2.Ram selection. Prior to Phase two of ram preparation. Ram selection data form CC3. Ewe preparation. Prior to start of mating (end of flushing period). Ewe preparation data form CC4. Ram preparation. Prior start of mating (end of flushing period). Ram preparation data form CC5. Joining. Start of mating period. Joining data form CC6. Mating. End of mating period. Mating data form CC7. Scan. >35 days after mating. Scan data form CC8. Rescan. ≥ 30 days after initial scanning. Rescan data form CC9. Pregnant. Prior to start of lambing. Pregnancy management data form CC10. Lambing. End of lambing period. Lambing data form CC11. Marking. After neonatal period. Marking data form CC12. Weaning. Separation of lambs from ewes. Weaning data form CC13. Ewe replacement. At ewe selection. Replacement maiden data form CC14. Ram replacement. At ram selection. Replacement ram data form CC15. Genital soundness. Prior to ram selection. Ram genital soundness data form CC16. Ram recovery. About 8 weeks after mating. Ram recovery data form CC17. Last day of lambing. About 146 days after end of joining. Last day of lambing data form. In addition to the specific procedures described in the seventeen CCP's three CCP's were described that can be performed to assist in monitoring the general health and welfare of the flock at strategic points in the management cycle: CC 18 Body condition score CC 19 Helminthic status CC 20 Nutritional status. Qualitative aspects of the critical control point as well as certain quality control questions were described as a generic quality control form. This generic form is modified annually to reflect hazard issues that need to be followed up the following year. Specific questions are entered on the form which is diarised for the next year. The use of these generic forms assisted in the process of continuous improvement by ensuring that adjustments to the Flock Health and Production Plan are made to prevent repeating management failures. Examples of the use of the CCP's are described on the basis of data that was collected from the flocks that participated in the project. Upon conclusion a questionnaire was completed by 12/25 of the flock managers who participated. The results of the survey indicated that there was general acceptance of a HACCP – based management system for the management of reproduction in the small ruminant enterprises by the flock managers that responded to the questionnaire. Flock managers agreed that the program must be adapted to their individual needs, would not be a problem to implement but needed to be simple and many would need assistance. Training and information was considered important aspects. There was general consensus that financial results should form part of the program and that comparisons within the group on an anonymous basis is accepted. The two responses that showed the least variance were the needs to reduce production risk and to be informed of potential hazards. Flock managers disagreed the most in their response about the range of control points they would implement. This correlates with the expressed need to have individually adapted programs. Flock managers were not very positive about the benefits of a quality control and certification system. Predation proved to be the most important hazard followed by parasites and stock theft, all three being highly variable as indicated by a large variance. The HACCP-based methodology should be applied in and extended form to all aspects of the flock production system to assist in improving sustainability. CopyrightDissertation (MMedVet)--University of Pretoria, 2012.Production Animal Studiesunrestricte

Placing taxonomists at the heart of a definitive and comprehensive global resource on the world's plants

It is time to synthesize the knowledge that has been generated through more than 260 years of botanical exploration, taxonomic and, more recently, phylogenetic research throughout the world. The adoption of an updated Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) in 2011 provided the essential impetus for the development of the World Flora Online (WFO) project. The project represents an international, coordinated effort by the botanical community to achieve GSPC Target 1, an electronic Flora of all plants. It will be a first‐ever unique and authoritative global source of information on the world's plant diversity, compiled, curated, moderated and updated by an expert and specialist‐based community (Taxonomic Expert Networks – “TENs” – covering a taxonomic group such as family or order) and actively managed by those who have compiled and contributed the data it includes. Full credit and acknowledgement will be given to the original sources, allowing users to refer back to the primary data. A strength of the project is that it is led and endorsed by a global consortium of more than 40 leading botanical institutions worldwide. A first milestone for producing the World Flora Online is to be accomplished by the end of 2020, but the WFO Consortium is committed to continuing the WFO programme beyond 2020 when it will develop its full impact as the authoritative source of information on the world's plant biodiversity

Manual of tropical bryology

Bryophytes belong to the oldest land plants. They existed already in the Palaeozoic 300 mio years ago in forms which were hardly different from the extant species. They remained relatively unchanged with relatively low evolution rates (and are thus often called a „conservative“ plant group), but could successfully establish themselves in an always varying environment from Devonian swamps to Permian forests, Mesozoic deserts and as epiphytes in Tertiary rainforests. They are not eaten by snails or insects, and are resistant against fungi and bacteria

Food for flight: pre-migratory dynamics of the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni.

Capsule The post-reproductive stage of Lesser Kestrel is crucial for migratory fuelling and survival. Aims To describe the summer pre-migratory ecology of the Lesser Kestrel in Sicily and review existing data in Southern Europe. Methods We identified the main summer roosts and then made roost counts every ten days from 2010 to 2012. We used case-sensitive modelling procedures to detect biases in counts (generalized linear mixed models), assess the annual population trends from 2005 to 2012 (TRends and Indices for Monitoring); and to model habitat preferences (generalized linear model). We sampled pellets to describe the birds’ diet during the peak month prior to migration. Results We discovered five roosts in Sicily with numbers of Lesser Kestrels varying annually (mean ±sd: 2112±387; min–max: 1797–2544). Counts at the main roost were not biased by meteorological conditions and showed an August peak followed by persistent decline through October. Less urbanized and heterogeneous agricultural areas with large cereal fields were the most significant habitats preferred during summer. Within this landscape, Lesser Kestrels prey on seasonally high concentrations of the small cricket Grylloderes brunneri. Conclusion Arable land not fragmented by agricultural intensification supports habitat rich with Orthopterans and attracts a large number of Lesser Kestrels fuelling before migration. Conservation of such pre-migratory habitats is as vital as conservation of breeding areas

Colorado Wildlife Action Plan: proposed rare plant addendum

Prepared for: the Colorado Rare Plant Conservation Initiative.June 2011.Includes bibliographical references

Studies on Old World Bluestems II

The Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station periodically issues revisions to its publications. The most current edition is made available. For access to an earlier edition, if available for this title, please contact the Oklahoma State University Library Archives by email at [email protected] or by phone at 405-744-6311

Conservation implications of the invasion of southern Africa by alien organisms

Bibliography: pages 792-808.Alien species known to be invading untransformed ecosystems in southern Africa, and, more particularly, those inside nature reserves, were identified. The extent and ecological impacts of these invasions were assessed. Their control within reserves was also evaluated. Research approaches used were; literature review (which included an international review), a detailed questionnaire survey of alien plant invasions in 307 reserves, rapid field surveys of 60 reserves, intensive case studies of four reserves (Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, Kruger National Park, Pella Fynbos Research Site), international comparison with case-study reserves in other savanna and Mediterranean-type biomes, and field evaluation of control methods for alien plants in the two fynbos reserves. Ecological impacts of alien invasions throughout the subcontinent were determined from historical changes in vertebrate populations, including detailed studies of three native birds (Bostrychia hagedash, Lybius leucomelas, Ploceus velatus) expanding their ranges, partly in response to the spread of invasive alien trees. The results are presented in eight chapters, comprising 26 published (or submitted) papers, an introduction and a concluding summary. One chapter covers contributions to the theoretical understanding of invasion processes, including a prediction of their interaction with rapid global environmental change. The conclusion is reached that alien invasions pose a serious challenge to nature conservation in the region. Mostly this comes from alien woody plants but the importance of herbaceous plants has possibly been underestimated regionally. Introduced mammalian pathogens and predatory fishes have also had important effects. Alien invertebrates have been poorly studied (the ant lridomyrmex humilis poses a significant threat). Alien terrestrial vertebrates have generally had only localized effects. Alien plant invasions affect all biomes, with riparian ecosystems being regionally threatened. Mesic biomes and habitats are usually more invaded by alien plants than xeric equivalents. 281 alien vascular plant species were recorded invading vegetation within nature reserves (an average of 12 species per reserve) with an additional 200 species being possibly present but unrecorded (an average of 18 species per reserve). By 1984, the 54 plant taxa recorded invading reserves most frequently were estimated, on average, to be present in 30% of the 11cm x 11cm grid cells of the reserves they were invading. The average potential future extent of these invasions was estimated to be 51%. Control had, on average, been initiated for two plant species in each reserve and 18% of these operations had already resulted in complete eradication. Reported control costs were particularly high for the woody plants which pose a serious threat to the highly endemic flora of the fynbos biome, on average R48 284/reserve (R1,8/ha = US Dollar 1,2/ha) in 1983. These high costs were validated experimentally. A computerized optimization model, aimed at minimizing the costs of controlling the most intractable shrub invader of fynbos, Acacia saligna, was developed from the results of a field experiment at the Pella site. Practical field- scale control of these invasions was assessed to be feasible, using the results of repeated monitoring of permanent plots in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Control strategies and regional priorities, based on the theoretical and practical insights gained from this study, are proposed. Even though the intensity of invasions is likely to increase in the foreseeable future, in part as a result of rapid man-induced changes in global climate, it is predicted that these invasions can be controlled if the correct approaches are adopted timeously. Failure to control them, will ensure that the extinction rate of native species will markedly increase and that ecosystem functioning will be altered significantly at a local scale and, conceivably also, at a regional scale